Maria Smith earned recognition as the 1995 Wauwatosa East Co-Female Athlete of the Year through her excellence in three sports. She received four varsity letters in basketball, with her teams winning the conference championships four years in a row in two different conferences — in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995. The 1992 and ‘93 teams played in the North Shore Conference and the 1994 and ‘95 teams in the Woodland Conference. Smith was named to the Woodland Conference All-Conference team and the CNI All-Suburban first team in 1995. When she was on the court she controlled the paint as she played the center position for the team.
In volleyball, Smith, who was a middle hitter, earned three varsity letters and was an integral member of the state championship teams of 1992 and 1994. The Red Raiders also won three conference championships in two different conferences and were state runners-up in 1993. Smith earned Second Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State her senior year.
Smith also received four varsity letters in track and field where she spanned a variety of events. She did five events, the maximum, during most of her career. Her five most consistent events were the 100 and 300 hurdles, 400m, high jump, discus, shot put. Although she participated in all but three events at some point in her high school career. Smith was part of the 1993 North Shore Conference Indoor and Relay conference championship teams.
Smith attended the University of Illinois-Chicago on an athletic scholarship for basketball where she continued her work both on the hardwood and in the classroom.
